Welcome

Welcome to the POZ/AIDSmeds Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and
others concerned about HIV/AIDS. Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the
conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning: Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive
and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a
username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own
physician.

All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators
of these forums. Click here for “Am I Infected?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ/AIDSmeds community forums.

We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please
provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are
true and correct to their knowledge.

Author
Topic: depression and more (Read 4467 times)

Hello everyone,I am looking for a little guidance. My boyfriend is positive, was diagnosed 2 years ago. We have been together for 4 months. He has told me that his depression and HIV diagnosis happened simultaneously. The last month his depression seems to be controlling him and he is having a lot of stomach problems. He tells me that those are normal that that's the reaction to the medicines he is taking. He goes once a month to the doctor and the psychiatrists. We live in Mexico city and he is being treated by social security, they are fantastic doctors and they provide him with all his medications for free. I am worried that he is stepping into a vicious cycle where he is not emotionally well and physically doesn't feel well (bloated, diarrhea, gases). My question is are his digestive problems a reaction to the medicine? Are there any suggestions from more knowledgeable people on how I can help him?

And what antidepressants, or other psychotropic medications -- if any -- is he on?

Jay

Logged

Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Hello,I have the name of the meds now, unfortunately they are in Spanish, Hopefully the names are similar in English.Vidanocina, Videz, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Omeprazol, anfebutonamona (the last one is an antidepressant)

Anfebutanoma is bupropion (Wellbutrin is the brand name). If he's been taking this medication for a while, it's unlikely that its the culprit for his GI issues. The diarrhea and dyspepsia associated with antidepressants usually goes away within two weeks. Most likely, it's the boosted protease inhibitor regimen (saquinavir + ritonavir) that's causing the tummy troubles. (Omeprazole fights stomach acidity.) I'll let people who know more about this stuff comment on this but you should check out the AidsMeds "lessons" on dealing with side-effects of HIV meds. Also search the forum "Treatment and Side Effects." Finally: if the bloating, diarrhea etc are seriously interfering with his quality of life, he should certainly talk to his doctors about it.

Jay

Logged

Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.